IMPROVEMENT OF RIVERS AND HARBORS ON SOUTHERN COAST OF MASSACHUSETTS, AND IN RHODE ISLAND; AND OF STONINGTON HARBOR, CONNECTICUT. Officer in charge, Maj. W. R. Livermore, Corps of Engineers; Division Engineer, Col. Henry L. Abbot, Corps of Engineers. 1. Harbor of refuge at Hyannis, Massachusetts.-This harbor, before improvement, was an open roadstead, exposed to southerly storms. In the years 1827-1838 a breakwater of riprap granite 1,170 feet long was constructed, covering an anchorage of about 175 acres, the entrance to which has a depth of about 15 feet. Between the years 1852 and 1882 extensive repairs were made in increasing the width of its base and the size of the stone forming its sides and top. The depth of water immediately inside the breakwater being insufficient for many vessels that seek the harbor for refuge, the present project for the improvement of the harbor contemplates dredging the area protected by the breakwater to a depth of 15 feet at mean low water. The amount expended on this work up to June 30, 1890, was $141,441.58. The breakwater had been completed according to the original proj ect and subsequent plans for strengthening it, and the 15-foot anchorage area had been increased by about 7 acres. At the beginning of the last fiscal year work was in progress, and was continued until July 11, 1890. On account of the exposed condition of the dumping ground it has not been the practice to attempt any work of dredging in this harbor, except during the summer season. Work was resumed May 19, 1891, and is now in progress with plant owned by the Government and a hired tug. About 4 acres have been dredged in the 15-foot anchorage area protected by the break water. The balance on hand and the amount asked for, $17,662, will be applied to dredging in the area protected by the break water. July 1, 1890, balance unexpended June 30, 1891, amount expended during fiscal year.... July 1, 1891, balance unexpended July 1, 1891, balance available.... Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project (See Appendix C 1.) $3,521.95 8,000.00 11, 521.95 6. 269.92 5, 252, 03 3,237.03 2,015.00 17, 662.00 17,662. 00 2. Harbor of refuge at Nantucket, Massachusetts.-This harbor is the only one between the harbors of Martha's Vineyard (Vineyard Haven and Edgartown) and Provincetown, a distance of about 100 miles, except the small harbor of Hyannis, on the north side of Nantucket Sound. It has deep water inside, and the object of improvement is to make it a harbor of refuge for vessels plying between ports north and south of Cape Cod. Before the commencement of the present work there was a shoal about 11⁄2 miles in width outside the entrance, through which the channel or line of best water was only about 6 feet deep, and very crooked and subject to changes in location. The present approved project is to construct jetties of riprap stone, projecting from either side of the present entrance to the harbor, for the purpose of concentrating the strength of the tidal currents and excavating a channel of 15 feet depth by scour, and at the places where the full depth required will not be reached by this means to complete the work by dredging. The amount expended on this project up to the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1890, was $144,951.30, and the result was the construction of the west jetty to a point 3,955 feet from the shore, and the east jetty to a distance of 834 feet from its initial point on shore, which is the outer end of the middle of the three northwest spurs built on Coatue Beach some years ago, and the foundation was laid and the jetty partially completed for an additional distance of 191 feet. Preparations have been made for carrying on the work by hired labor. The construction of the east jetty was resumed June 26. The balance available and the amount asked for, $100,000, is to be applied to the further extension of the east jetty, and raising low places in the west jetty, together with a little dredging, if necessary. July 1, 1890, balance unexpended ..... June 30, 1891, amount expended during fiscal year... July 1, 1891, balance unexpended.. July 1, 1891, balance available...... $531.81 25,000.00 25,531.81 8,303, 59 17, 228.22 2,613. 22 14, 615.00 205,000,00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.. harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix C 2.) 3. Martha's Vineyard Inner Harbor at Edgartown, Masssachusetts.The inner harbor at Edgartown lies in the northern part of the waterway or strait that separates Chappaquiddick Island from the east end of Martha's Vineyard. It extends southward about 1 miles from Chappaquiddick Point opposite Edgartown, and averages about onefifth of a mile in width. This harbor is so completely landlocked as to form a safe harbor of refuge for small vessels, but the contracted width of the entrance and the resulting velocity of the tidal currents make it difficult to pass through. This is a new work, and no appropriation had been made for it until, by act of September 19, 1890, Congress appropriated $2,000 for dredging in the harbor. A shoal known as the Middle Ground lies in the central portion of the harbor. It is proposed to excavate this shoal to a depth of 10 feet at mean low water. The project provides for the commencement of dredging on the western side of the shoal, carrying the work as far to the eastward as funds will permit. Preparations have been made for carrying on the work by hired labor. It is proposed to apply the balance of the funds on hand and the amount asked for, $2,500, to the completion of the project. ENG 91-4 Amount appropriated by act approved September 19, 1890 July 1, 1891, balance unexpended July 1, 1891, balance available... Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project ..... (See Appendix C 3.) $2,000.00 13.25 1,986.75 232.75 1,754.00 2,500.00 2,500.00 4. Harbor at Vineyard Haven, Massachusetts.-The plan of improvement contemplates the protection of the points of land at the entrance to the harbor known as East Chop and West Chop by the construction of jetties and other works along the shore to stop the wearing away of the chops by the action of the storm waves. The amount expended on this project up to the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1890, including outstanding liabilities, was $23,339, and the result was the construction of a wharf and three jetties at West Chop. During the last fiscal year a jetty was commenced on the East Chop, jetty No. 1 on the West Chop was extended 150 feet, and a longitudinal wall on the West Chop was built for a distance of 80 feet. The balance available and the amount asked for, $25,000, will be applied to continuing the work of protection, mainly at the East Chop. July 1, 1890, balance unexpended Received by Treasury settlement $5,359.05 15, 361.79 8, 268. 65 June 30, 1891, amount expended during fiscal year.......... July 1, 1891, balance unexpended ... 7,093. 14 July 1, 1891, balance available...... 6,076.00 25,000.00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project..... (See Appendix C 4.) 5. Wareham Harbor, Massachusetts.-The object of the improvement is to deepen and widen the channel leading from Buzzards Bay to Wareham. The commerce of Wareham is carried on in sailing vessels, and the channel is to be made a beating channel for such vessels. other object of the improvement is the raising of Long Beach. An Before improvement the ruling depth in the harbor was about 7 feet at mean low water in a narrow and very crooked channel. Long Beach, a narrow sand spit at the mouth of the harbor, was washed and abraded by the waves and currents at high water, and the material was carried into and shoaled the channel inside. The original approved project of 1871 for the improvement, and its subsequent modifications, provides for a channel 250 feet wide and 10 feet deep at mean low water from Barney Point down to the entrance to the harbor. Above Barney Point the width of the channel is to be 350 feet, with the same depth-10 feet-as below that point. The plan includes also the raising and strengthening of Long Beach, of which a large portion was submerged at low water, to carry it above the storm waves and currents and to hold it there, in order to prevent the filling of the improved channel above, by material abraded from the beach. The total amount expended on the improvement up to the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1890, including outstanding liabilities at that date, was $83,968.63, and the result was that the channel in the upper part of the harbor in front of the wharves was carried to its full width and completed, and the eastern half of the second and third reaches below the wharves, and about two-thirds of the eastern half of the fourth reach, which extends to Barney Point, were deepened to 10 feet at mean low water. The channel for about one half its width from Barney Point to Wareham has been deepened to 10 feet, and a portion of Reach No. 9, formerly obstructed by the shoal known as the Middle Ground, had been deepened to 10 feet. Long Beach has been raised above high-water storm tides, so that the wash of sand into the improved channel inside the beach has been stopped. The ruling depth of the approaches to Wareham has been increased from 7 to 9 feet, and the channel greatly widened in all the reaches. Vessels of larger draft can be carried to Wareham than formerly. The increase in width of channel is a great help to all vessels in beating in and out of the harbor. A contract has been made for dredging under the appropriation made by the act of September 19, 1890. The time for commencement of work under this contract has been extended to August 15, 1891. The balance available and the amount asked for, $7,236, will be applied to continuing the work of dredging and to the building up of Long Beach if necessary. July 1, 1890, balance unexpended..... Received by Treasury settlement Amount appropriated by act approved September 19, 1890 June 30, 1891, amount expended during fiscal year July 1, 1891, balance unexpended...... July 1, 1891, balance available Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.... (See Appendix C 5.) $145.39 12.42 5,000.00 5, 157.81 903.88 4, 253.93 1,760.00 2,493.93 7, 236.00 7,236.00 6. New Bedford Harbor, Massachusetts.-Before improvement the channel had a depth of about 12 feet at mean low water. The original project for its improvement as modified in 1877 provided for a channel 300 feet wide and 15 feet deep at mean low water from the deep water just above Palmer Island to the wharves at New Bedford. This project was completed in 1877 at a cost of $20,000. The object of the present improvement is to provide a channel 200 feet wide and 18 feet deep at mean low water. The amount expended to June 30, 1890, including outstanding liabili ties at that date, was $29,966.02. The result was the excavation of the channel, under the original project and its modifications, to a width of 300 feet and a depth of 15 feet at mean low water, and the excavation of a channel 100 feet wide and 18 feet deep from the 11-foot bank to the vicinity of the wharves of New Bedford. Preparations have been made to do the work by hired labor. The work required to complete the existing project is the excavation of the remaining half of the channel 200 feet wide and 18 feet deep, extending from the "11-foot bank" to the vicinity of the wharves at New Bedford, and the removal of a few shoal spots between the "11foot bank" and Butler's Flats, the southern end of the projected channel. The balance available and the amount asked for, $15,000, will be applied to the continuation of this project. July 1, 1890, balance unexpended. Received by Treasury settlement... Amount appropriated by act approved September 19, 1890.. June 30, 1891, amount expended during fiscal year July 1, 1891, balance unexpended. Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project... (See Appendix C 6.) $57.65 12.03 10,000. 09 10, 070.22 3,038.55 7,031.67 15,000.00 15,000.00 7. Westport Harbor, Massachusetts.-Westport Harbor is an estuary on the coast of Massachusetts, lying between Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island, and Buzzard Bay, Massachusetts. The site of the work is on Horse Neck Point (the north side of the entrance to the harbor). Before the commencement of the improvement the site of the present work was a point of sand forming the northern and eastern boundary of the entrance to the harbor, and subject to erosion by the sea and tides. The original project of 1887, with its subsequent modifications, provides for the construction of jetties at the end of Horse Neck Point to stop the wearing of this point. The amount expended to June 30, 1890, was $1,000, and the result was the construction of one jetty on Horse Neck Point. At the beginning of the last fiscal year no work was in progress. By act of September 19, 1890, Congress appropriated $1,000 for the continuation of the improvement. A project for the expenditure of this sum was prepared, and was approved by the Chief of Engineers. This project provides for extending the present jetty to a point near the low-water line, and a small amount of dredging on the Lion's Tongue Shoal, near the mouth of the west branch of the river. Amount appropriated by act approved September 19, 1890. July 1, 1891, balance unexpended.................. Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project .... (See Appendix C 7.) Preparations have been made for carrying on the work by hired labor. The work required to complete the existing project is the extension of the present jetty and the dredging on the Lion's Tongue Shoal. The balance on hand and the amount asked for ($1,977.04), will be applied to the completion of the existing project. $1,000.00 22.96 977.04 1,000.00 1,000.00 |